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Steamboat ^flhartjting. 


R. P. LOPER in Self-Defence against the Aspersions of the 
Senate Committee. 


Hon. E. M. Stanton, 

Secretary of War : 

Sir : — On the 22d of December, 1862, a Select Committee 
of the Senate, with Mr. Grimes at its head, was appointed 
to inquire into the chartering of transport vessels for the 
Banks’ Expedition, and also into the employment of trans- 
ports generally. This Committee made one report to the 
Senate, which in no way affects me, and therefore I have 
nothing to say to it. They took much testimony with 
reference to another report, which does materially affect me, 
but before it was printed it found its way to The New York 
Tribune, and an abstract of this report was given to the 
world through that medium, in which I am branded as a 
swindler of the Government. Knowing that there was no 
foundation in truth for these charges, and hoping that the 
Committee would hear additional testimony before they re- 
ported to the Senate, I addressed the following letter to Mr. 
Grimes : 

Washington, D. C., February 18, 1863. 

Hon. J. W. Grimes, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Banks' Expedi- 
tion, and other charters : 

Sir ; — Conceiving that the public mind was grossly abused, and great injustice 
done to you as a Senator, and to me as a citizen, in your report, (etc., etc.,) so far 
as it relates to my connection with the public service, I respectfully ask you to read 
at your earliest leisure, the following papers which I propose to hand you : 


9 


First : The testimony of J. Edgar Thomson and S. Felton, showing that I was 
only a third party engaged in the chartering of vessels during the time I acted 
under Mr. Thomson, as assistant agent of the War Department, and that the prices 
of charters were satisfactory to those gentlemen, and that I would not and did not 
receive any compensation for my services, or even have my expenses paid, while 
acting as a Government agent. 

Second: The testimony of Anthony Groves, Jr., stating that I did not charter 
any one of his Company’s boats while I was acting as Government agent, and that 
I never received from him the value of $1 for chartering, or for my inlluence in 
chartering, his or his Company’s boats, and that he never paid me any money 
belonging to the Government ; but that, on the contrary, had it not been for my 
influence in behalf of the Government, his Company would have received thousands 
of dollars more from Government than they did receive. 

Third: The testimony of Capt. Wilmon Whilldin, setting forth that I never 
charged, and that he never paid me, the value of $1, for chartering, nor for my 
influence in procuring a charter, for his steamers to the Government, from the time 
the Rebellion broke out to the 14th day of February, 1863. 

Fourth : The testimony of Anthony Reybold, Esq., setting forth that I never 
charged him the value of $1 for chartering, or using my influence to charter, all or 
any one of his steamers to the War Department. 

The reading of these papers will enable you to correct errors into which you have 
unintentionally fallen, and to do justice to your own candor and my good name, 
which I hope you will take pleasure in doing. 

If, when the Capital was in danger, the railroad obstructed, and no mode of 
transporting troops remained but by water, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Felton, and myself, 
paid too much for vessels, (which I do not admit we did,) the answer is that there 
was no time for higgling, and that dispatch was more important than economy. 

The steamer Metamora, mentioned in your report as being chartered by me, is a 
mistake. I never chartered her, nor used my influence to have her chartered by 
any Government agent. I saw her for the first time at Washington, while I was 
superintending the embarkation of the Army of the Potomac. I went on board to 
rate her and ascertain the number of troops she would carry. She had then been 
in Government employ some weeks. The New York steamers referred to in the 
report could be only those that I collect the charter money of. I advanced the 
owners of these steamers $32,000, and the charters were assigned over to-^me as 
collateral security for the moneys I advanced them. Since the time our troops 
were shot down in Baltimore — which was the time my services commenced — I have 
never charged the Government one cent for my services, nor have they ever paid 
me up to this date for my services or traveling expenses. 

Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

R. F. LOPER. 

This letter was placed in the hands of Mr. Grimes, with 
a request that he would read it, which he promised to do. 

'■ s 


3 




I then asked him when he would give me an answer, and 
he replied, “ In one hour.” I called on him at the appointed 
time, and he promised me he would read the evidence and 
do me justice, and fixed the hour of 12 M. the next day, to 
give me an answer. Next day, at the hour appointed, I 
called to receive his answer, and he returned me my papers, 
consisting of the letters and affidavits hereinafter set forth, 
and asked why the evidence was not furnished him before. 
I answered, that not knowing what had been said against 
me, I did not know that the evidence would be required. 
He said it was too late ; he could not alter his report, as the 
Committee had been discharged. I conversed with him 
again at 2 o’clock, P. M., and asked him, for the sake of 
justice, to call his Committee together for one hour, to hear 
the additional evidence. He replied that he could not call 
the Committee together again, and would not if he could. 
I then told him I had the staff in my own hand, and should 
use it. Here ended my correspondence with Mr. Grimes. 
I had been accused as a swindler, tried and condemned 
without a hearing in the star-chamber of the Senate Com- 
mittee, without even the gratification of knowing what the 
other members of the Committee, upon reading my evidence, 
thought of my case. 

So far as I am personally concerned, these matters do not 
affect me ; but I have a family whose destiny in life depends 
somewhat on my good name ; I have thousands of old 
friends, both on the sea and on the land, who have given 
me their confidence for over forty years of my life ; I have 


4 


a country in whose union and glory and prosperity I feel a 
deep interest, whose success depends on the integrity of her 
agents — all these demand at my hands a defence of my 
character, which I am bound to make before the world, in 
justice to them all. One cause of error which led this Com- 
mittee astray, and enabled them to deceive others, is taking 
for granted that my agency for the War Department was 
perpetual, and that, being the perpetual agent of the Depart- 
ment, I was cut off from all my ordinary pursuits. The 
truth is simply this : I received my appointment from J. 
Edgar Thomson, on the 20th day of April, 1861, and was 
discharged on the 10th day of May following. This makes 
twenty days and no more in which I acted as assistant 
agent of the Department. After my agency for the War 
Department had expired, I was at liberty to pursue my or- 
dinary calling like other men ; and, having large collections 
of my own for vessels, chartered to the Department, I was 
intrusted with the collection of large sums from others, for 
which 1 charged five per cent., the ordinary compensation 
received by commission merchants, agents, and attorneys. 
I had been in the habit for the last 13 years of paying at 
the rate of five per cent., for the collecting of from $300,000 
to 1350.000 per annum; and when I acted as agent for 
others, abundantly able to pay, there was no good reason 
why I should charge less, especially when I had advanced 
large sums of money to the owners of these vessels, for 
which, except in the single case of Capt. Whilldin, 1 charged 
nothing for the advances so made. The Committee have 


5 


/ 


chosen to set down the sums of money so received as com- 
missions — as so much money taken out of the United States 
Treasury. Here is a new idea among business men. The 
Government owes A. on written contract, under seal, 
flOO.OOO. He employs B. to collect it, for which he charges 
five per cent., which amounts to $5,000, leaving his client 
$95,000. According to the logic of the Committee, this 
$5,000 is stolen from the Treasury, and suits ought to be 
brought against the attorney to recover it back again. If 
the charges made by the Committee were specific, those 
charges would be easily answered. But they deal in vague 
generalities, always deceiving themselves and deceiving the 
public with the leading falsehood that I was constantly in 
the employment of the Government. The attack on me 
opens thus : 

The testimony of Mr. Hall leads to an examination of Capt. Richard F. Loper, 
of Philadelphia^ whom the Committee find to be in receipt of enormous revenue 
from the chartering of transports, derived partly from the commissions received on 
vessels where he acted at the same time as agent of the Government, and agent of 
the owners, partly from the charters of vessels belonging to transportation compa- 
nies, of which he is a large stockholder, partly from vessels owned by himself, and 
chartered by or through himself, as Government agent, to the Government, partly 
from collections of money due to others on transportation account, and partly from 
his influence.” Mr. Hall testifies that he paid Loper $13,000 at one time for 
“getting business for him.” The- business referred to was the chartering of several 
transports for the McClellan Expedition. In answer to the question, “ How much, 
in addition to what you have already paid him (Loper,) do you consider yourself 
under equitable and mercantile obligation to pay him ?” Hall replies “ I should 

consider myself under obligation to pay him one-half — that is, 2J per cent. except 

on vessels chartered for the McClellan Expedition.” 

Now every business man knows that vessels are charter- 
ed, not only to the Government but to individuals, through 
the agency of brokers, who represent the owners. It is a 


6 


legitimate branch of commerce, as honest, honorable and 
useful, as a seat in the Senate. Every such broker so em- 
ployed does for his principal the best he can in fairness, and, 
unless the party with whom he deals is ignorant or knavish, 
the transactions are fair. Mr. Hall was engaged in this 
business, working for the ordinary commissions, and, for any 
thing I knew at the time or now know, an honest, fair- 
dealing man. With this belief, I sent numerous persons to 
him who had steamers and vessels to charter, and he paid 
me various sums of money, from time to time, but what 
proportion they bore to his commissions I do not know. At 
the time of these transactions, I was not the agent of the 
Government in any sense, my engagement having ended 
nine months previous ; but this charge is in itself so incon- 
sistent as to be totally unworthy of belief. The report says 
that “ the business referred to was the chartering of several 
transports for the Me Clellan Expedition!' The testimony on 
which the charge is made is, “I should consider myself” 
under obligations to pay him one-half, that is, 2i per cent., 
“ except on vessels chartered for the Me Clellan Expedition!' 

Whether I am a wealthy man or a poor man, whether I 
live at Stonington or at Philadelphia, are matters of little 
interest to the public, further than this : Messrs. Thomson, 
Felton and myself, at a time when the Government was 
helpless, and the railroads destroyed by the enemy, on our 
own responsibility, caused to be seized or employed 27 vessels, 
to transport troops and stores to Washington to defend the 
Capital. To do this required either wealth, or credit, or 


7 




some other quality recommending one to the public confi- 
dence. Without this timely provision, no well-informed 
man doubts that the Capital would have fallen into the 
hands of the Rebels. Of a kin to this clap-trap about 
undue wealth is the tenderness of conscience expressed in 
the following passage : ‘ 

Capt. Loper’s connection with the chartering of transports for the Government 
during this war commenced as early as April 20, 1861, at which time he was ap- 
pointed Assistant Agent to the War Department by J. Edgar Thomson, President 
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The Committee are unable to say by 
virtue of what law an Assistant Agent of the War Department’* was appointed, 
or how the appointing power came to be lodged in the hands of the President of 
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. They would refer, however, to the appoint- 
ment or commission itself, which purports to have been given by Mr. Thomson 
^4n accordance with the authority vested in me by the Secretary of War,” the Hon. 
Simon Cameron. 

For twenty days only, I acted as assistant agent of the 
War Department, in securing vessels to carry troops to 
Washington City, when the Capital was threatened, and the 
Railroad communication cut olf by the enemy. Whether 
there was any authority derived from the statute-book for 
J. Edgar Thomson to appoint me, I neither knew nor cared; 
nor did I pause to inquire whether it was constitutional for 
J. Edgar Thomson to hold both the agency of the War 
Department and the Presidency of the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road Company. I knew that there was an awful emergency, 
which gave no honest man time to pettifog such questions ; 
and when I was called on for my aid, feeble though it might 
be, I did not feel myself at liberty to withhold it. I had 
been engaged successfully for over 40 years, in building, 
navigating, and freighting vessels and steamboats, and in 


8 


the commission business. It was, therefore, natural enough 
that Mr. Thomson should think I knew something about 
the business on hand. 

Whatever my ability may have been, I gave it to my 
country freely, without charging or receiving from the 
Government one cent for my services, directly or indirectly. 

In another part of the report, I find the following charges 
as applied to myself : 

Commencing on the 20th of April, 1861, to act as Assistant Agent of the War 
Department,’’ he commenced on the same day to receive 5 per cent, commissions 
on the earnings of vessels chartered by his agency. The first vessel he took up was 
the Steamer W. Whilldin, April 20, 1861, owned by Anthony Keybold, at $175 per 
day. (Senate, Ex. Doc. 37, page 2, 37th Congress, Second Session.) Mr. Reybold 
testified that the Whilldin remained in the service under that charter to the present 
time, although her rate of charter was subsequently reduced to $150 per day. The 
receipts of the steamer Whilldin up to the time of the delivery of Mr. Reybold’s 
testimony, must have been somewhere between $93,650 and $113,925, on which 
Capt. Loper’s commissions were between $4,862 and $5,746. Mr. Reybold chartered 
the steamer Express for the Government, from Capt. Loper, at $175 per day, the 
Star at $110 per day, and the John Tucker at $300 per day, paying Loper five per 
cent, on their gross receipts. Through the same generous agency, Mr. Reybold 
chartered the Diamond State (375 tons) at $200 per day, the Swan (350 tons) at $200 
per day, and the Gen. Burnside (400 tons,) at $300 per day, Capt. Loper himself 
being part owner of them. Mr. Reybold testifies that his own receipts from these 
charters were about $1,100 per day, or at the rate of $401,500 per year. Mr. 
Loper’s commission on Mr. Reybold’s boats could not have been less than $20,000 
per year ; for, although he charged no commission on the three boats of which he 
was part owner, it must be presumed that the amount which he derived from them, 
over and above a fair mercantile profit, was at least equal to five per cent, otherwise 
he would have charged the commission. If the Government had bought Mr. 
Reybold’s fleet at the outset, instead of employing Capt. Loper to charter them, it 
would have saved an immense sum of money. 

I had nothing to do with the chartering of the W. 
Whilldin, in the first instance, either as the agent of the 
War Department or as the broker of Mr. Reybold; the 
vessel was seized for the service by order of Gov. Curtin. 


9 




My agency for Reybold was confined wholly to the collec- 
tion of his charter-money after it became due ; but the affi- 
davit of Mr. Eeybold tells the story best. 

The charters of these vessels as well as all others named 
in my list, whilst acting as agent of the War Department, 
were signed some two days after the vessels were pressed 
into service, and the charters dated back, so as to cover all 
the time they had been employed. 

Delaware City, Del., February 12th, 1863. 

Hon. J. W. Grimes, Chairman Senate Investigating Committee^ Washington^ D. (7. 

Sir : In justice to Capt. Loper, permit me to make the following statement of 
facts relative to my connection with him. On the 20th of April, 1861, my steam 
propeller “W. Whilldin” was pressed into the service of the U. S. War Depart- 
ment, by an order from Gov. Curtin of Pennsylvania ; and on the 19th day of July 
following, J ohn Tucker, Esq., rechartered her and my side-wheel steamer Express. 
Some months after the date of these charters, I made an agreement with Capt. R. 
F. Loper for him to collect the charters. And for doing so I was to pay him a com- 
mission. It was about ten months after the steamer Express was chartered before 
the Government paid me one cent of her charter-money ; and had it not been for 
Capt. Loper advancing me money on her charter, it would have caused me consider- 
able trouble and annoyance. On the 23d June, 1862, 1 chartered the steamer John 
Tucker to the War Department. I did not see Capt. Loper until a month after I had 
done so. In fact, he did not know that I owned her, for at least one month after 
she was chartered, when I applied to Capt. Loper to collect the charter. I have 
paid Capt. Loper five per cent, for collecting the charter-money, and that is all I 
have ever paid him or that he has ever charged me. He has advanced me, from 
time to time, $10,000 and $15,000 at a time, on account of charters over-due, for 
which he has never charged me any commission or interest. I never paid, and he 
never asked me, any compensation for getting charters for any vessels which I 
owned. The Diamond State was chartered for the Banks Expedition, at $250 per 
day, but could not be got ready in time. Capt. Loper then took charge of her 
and chartered her to the Government at $200 per day, for which he charged me no 
commission. The steamer Star was chartered to the Government for ten days, and 
if the Government kept her for one year that was not my fault. She must certainly 
have been worth the money, or the Government would not have retained her. For 
collecting the charter of the Star, Capt. Loper charged me five per cent. I also 
distinctly state, that if Capt. Loper should refuse to collect the charters for me, I 
would at once employ some other merchant to attend to it on the same terms, if 


10 


possible. I feel that the commissions paid Capt. Loper are justly, earned by him 
and no more than it is usual to pay, and the customary charge for the same business 
by the merchants of New York and Philadelphia. Capt. Loper some time since 
offered to give up the collecting of the charters, but I refused to let him off, as I 
felt that I could not do ^s well by placing my business in other hands. 1 have 
repeatedly called on Capt. Loper to get the charter of the Express raised in pro- 
portion to other boats of her class, but he always told me to let it remain at the price 
it was, and it has remained at the same price to this time, and her charter to day 
is 50 per cent, less than vessels of her class chartered in New York. I have written 
the above and within without a suggestion from any one, and solely with a view 
to do justice to Capt. Loper and myself in the transaction. I wish to say it under 
oath as a part of my testimony, and have accordingly testified. 

Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

ANTHONY REYBOLD. 

On this seventeenth day of Fehruary, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-three, before me, N. 
Cullen, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Washington, D. C., personally came Anthony 
Reybold, and made oath, in due form of law, that all the facts and statements mentioned in the foregoing 
letter, dated 12th February, 1863, and directed to the Hon. Mr. Grimes, Senator of the United States, are 
true to the best of his knowledge and belief. 

[Signed.] N. CALLEN, Justice of Peace. 

The above and within is a true copy of original, forwarded to the Hon. J. W. 
Grimes, Chairman Senate Investigating Committee. A. R. 

In another part of the report, I find the following : 

While Mr. Loper was acting as Assistant Agent of the War Departments^ 
under the appointment of J. Edgar Thomson, he put the following steamers, be- 
longing to the Philadelphia Steam Propeller Company and the Express Steamboat 
Company, which are practically one and the same concern, into charter to the 
Government at the following rates, respectively : 


1861. 

Name. 

Tonnage. 

Rate Per Day. 

April 20 


254 

$150 

April 22 


172 

135 

April 23 


300 

175 

April 27 



30 

April 27 


158 

135 

April 27 


124 

30 

April 27 


282 

150 

April 27 


211 

125 

May 7 


..286 

160 

Total 


1,920 

$1,090 


11 


/- 2 , 


In regard to this matter, I have two observations to make ; 

First: On comparison with the records, it will be found 
that all vessels owned in whole or in part by me, were 
chartered to the Government at a rate 25 per cent, lower 
than was paid for other vessels of equal capacity up to this 
date. 

Second: tn every instance when vessels owned in whole 
or in part by me were chartered to the Government, while 
1 was acting as agent for the Government, the price was ap- 
proved by Messrs. Thomson and Felton, the authorized 
agents of the Government. These letters will tell the 
story : 

Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 
President’s Office, Philadelphia, February 16, 1863. 

Dear Sir: — During the period I acted temporarily for the War Department, in 
forwarding troops to Washington, to prevent the National Capital from falling into 
the hands of the Rebels, I employed Capt. Loper to assist me in procuring vessels 
to convey troops to Annapolis, the direct route, via Baltimore, having being cut off. 
The Captain performed this service satisfactorily. From the urgent necessity of 
affording immediate relief to Washington, we did not stop to chaffer about the prices 
to be paid for the services of the vessels obtained. After the object was secured, 
the pric.es paid were arranged upon a basis that appeared to both myself and Mr. 
Felton reasonable, considering the short period that they were engaged by my or- 
der. I believe I acted as agent for the Department but about three weeks, at the 
request of the Secretary of W ar. 

Yours, very respectfully, 

J. EDGAR THOMSON. 

Hon. J. W. Grimes, H. S. Senate. 

P. S. — Capt. Loper neither charged or received any salary for his services while 
employed by me. J. E. T. 


Philadelphia, February 16, 1863. 

Dear Sir: — On or near the 19th of April, 1861, J. Edgar Thomson and myself 
sent for Captain R. F. Loper, to ascertain from him where boats could be obtained 
for the transportation of troops designed for Washington. The bridges on the 


12 


lower part of the road were then destroyed, and it was necessary to promptly for- 
ward troops to save the Capital. Captain Loper faithfully and gratuitously gave his 
time for two or three weeks, in hunting up and chartering vessels, and when asked 
by Mr. Thomson and myself to make out a bill for his services, he declined to make 
any or receive anything, stating that he was most happy to have done all he had 
done without compensation. I cheerfully bear this testimony to Captain Loper’s 
efficiency, and to the value of his services at the most trying period of our Country's 
history. I cheerfully concur in what Mr. Thomson has said on the other page. 

Yours, truly, 

S. M. FELTON. 

The above is a copy of my letter to Captain Loper. 

S. M. FELTON. 

Captain Loper is at liberty to take a copy of this letter. 

S. M. FELTON. 

Hon. J. W, Grimes. 

Further along in the report, I find this : 

“ There are discrepancies between the two lists which the Committee will not 
attempt to explain. The steamers Josephine, Thomas Sparks, Planet, Ann Eliza, 
and Sophia, which appear in the report of the Secretary of War as having been 
chartered by Captain Loper during the period of his agency, namely, between April 
20 and May 8, 1861, do not appear in Captain Loper’s list at all. These steamers 
were owned in part by Captain Loper, as stockholder in the two companies.” 

The Committee cannot fail to be ashamed of this state- 
ment, when they turn to the 255th page of their own report, 
where they give in full, a list, headed “ E. F. Leper’s List 
of Vessels Chartered,” etc., in which the names of all these 
five vessels are clearly given. Again, on pages Nos. 277 
and 278, they will find the names of all these vessels, with 
the price of each, per day, set opposite to their names. 
Other discrepancies, which occupy so large a place in the 
imaginations of the Committee, will vanish in like manner 
on looking into the evidence. 

Here follows an admixture of charges against myself and 
others : 

“ Captain Loper’s assistant agency lasted only till May 8, 1861, at which time 
his commission was revoked by Mr. J. Edgar Thomson, who informed Capt. Loper 


13 


y^c 


that he had been notified by the Secretary of War, (Mr. Cameron,) of the appoint- 
ment of Mr. John Tucker, as United States Transport Agent.” Mr. Thomson 
then wrote a letter to the Secretary of War, stating that Capt. Loper had been 

untiring in his efforts to serve the country.” The more heavy operations of Capt. 
Loper began with the appointment of Mr. Tucker, as United States Transport 
Agent,” and they have continued without intermission during the whole of Mr. 
Tucker’s two terms of office, first as agent, and subsequently as assistant Secretary 
of War. Mr. Tucker employed Capt. Loper to ^Mnspect and recommend” all 
kinds of vessels at Philadelphia, New York, and Annapolis, for various services 
and expeditions, and Capt. Loper proceeded to charge from five to ten per cent, 
commissions on the gross earnings of the vessels recommended to Mr. Tucker for 
charter. In some cases, it was denominated a brokerage commission, in others a 
commission for collecting ; and in others still, he received five per cent, for broker- 
age, and five per cent, additional for collecting the sums due the owners. The tes- 
timony of Wilmon Whilldin shows that Loper took $8,000 from him on the earnings 
of the steamers Pilot Boy and George Washington, being ten per cent, on the pro- 
ceeds of their charter parties. Capt. Loper admits that he took $5,000 from Mr. 
Anthony Groves on certain vessels, and Mr. Groves testified that in making the 
charter, he estimated for the commissions he should be obliged to pay Loper, so 
that the money really came out of the Government.” 

So far as these charges apply to Mr. Tucker, he can 
answer for himself, and so far as they refer to me, I propose 
to submit the affidavits of Capt. Whilldin, and Anthony 
Groves, Jr., without note or commentary : 

• Philadelphia, February 14, 1863. 

Honored Sir: — Having read that part of the report of your Committee 
relative to my boats Pilot Boy” and George Washington,” which would convey 
the idea that there was unfair dealing on the part of Capt. Loper to me or to the 
Government in his transactions with me, I would state that I went before you with 
a desire to tell all I knew in the matter. I stated to you that I had not given any- 
thing to any one to have my boats chartered, but was applied to for them. I would 
further add, in justice to Capt. Loper, as well as myself, that I did not agree to give 
him a per centage to collect my charters, until two months or more after the boats 
had been taken. The money was to be paid monthly, but it was six months before 
a dollar was paid me by the Government. If their collection did not involve a 
routine of business of which I was totally unacquainted, and a great expenditure of 
time which I could not spare from the attention necessary to the running of the 
boats, and my other business, or was as easily done as the collection of any common 
business debt, I should not have found it necessary to employ any one j but, as it was, 
I could not do both, and knowing better how to run steamboats than to collect 


14 


debts from Government, I chose to employ the Captain, who, I believed, knew all 
about these matters. Under all the circumstances, my employing him or some 
other person has been almost as necessary as to employ any one connected with run- 
ning the boats. I have never begrudged him a dollar for doing my business, and 
would never have employed him if I had for a moment thought that he or I was guilty 
of any wrong. If he should give up my business, I would ^t once be necessitated to 
employ some one else to attend to it. Please excuse the liberty I have taken. 

I am, dear sir, your obedient servant, 

WILMON WHILLDIN. 

Hon. J. W. Grimes, Chairman of the Investigating Committee. 

As Capt. R. F. Loper desired to have a copy of my letter to the Hon. J. W. 
Grimes, I certify this to be a true copy. 

WILMON WHILLDIN. 

I have written the above withont a suggestion from any one, and solely with a view to do justice to 
myself and Captiun Loper in this transaction, I wish to say it under oath, as part of my testimony, and 
have accordingly testified before an Alderman. 

[Signed.] WILMON WHILLDIN. 

Wilmon Whilldin, being duly sworn, according to law, saith, that the facts set forth in the foregoing 
letter and statement are true and correct in every particular. 

[Signed.] WILMON WHILLDIN. ' 

Sworn and subscribed before me, an Alderman of the City of Philadelphia, this 16th day of February, 
A. D., 1863. 

[Signed.] JOHN WHITE, Alderman. 


Philadelphia, February 13th, 1863. 

Hon. j. W. Grimes, Chairman Senate Irwestigating Committee.^ Wq^sliington^ D, C, 

Sir: In looking at my evidence before the Select Committee of the Senate on 
Transports, as published’^ I can only, in justice to Capt. Loper, explain that part 
of it which refers to the five per cent, commission paid him. If I did not state, it 
was my intention distinctly to say that, had it been told me that I would be obliged 
to pay a commission for procuring a charter for our Company’s boats, I would have 
charged the difference for them ; but I did not charge more, for the reason that they 
had been chartered prior to any commission being asked or allowed j therefore, the 
Company paid the commission, and not the Government. 

Capt. Loper did not charter any of our Company’s boats w^hile he was acting as 
agent of the Government, as all of our boats were pressed into the service by Gov. 
Curtin of Pennsylvania, and the charters made some time after, for one month. 

All the commissions paid R. F. Loper were for collecting the money due on 
charters from the War Department, and not for his influence in procuring charters. 


15 


Had it not been for the influence he used in favor of the Government, our Company 
would have received thousands of dollars more for our steamers in the McClellan” 
Expedition. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

A. GROVES, Jr. 

I certify that the above is a true copy sent to Mr. Grimes. 

A. GROVES, Jr. 

With a view to do justice to myself and Captain R F. Loper, I beg leave to say that I have written the 
within letter M'ithout any promptings from any individual, without any expectation of reward, or having 
received any to substantiate the above. I have sworn to the same. 

[Signed.] A. GROVES, Jr. 

A Groves, Jr., being duly sworn, according to law, saith, that the facts set forth in the above statement 
and foregoing letter are true and correct in every particular. 

[Signed.] A. GROVES, Jr. 

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 16th day of February, A. D., 1863. 

[Signed.] JOHN WHITE, 

Alderman, City of Philadelphia. 

The report proceeds : 

“ (Commencing on the 26th of April, 1861, to act as assistant agent of the War 
Department, he commenced on the same day to receive five per cent, commissions 
on the earnings of the vessels chartered by his agency. The first vessel he took up 
was the steamer W. Whilldin, April 20, 1861, owned by Anthony Reybold, at $175 
per day, (Senate Ex. Doc. 37, page 2, 37th Congress, Second Session). Mr. Rey- 
bold testifies that the Whilldin remained in the service under that charter to the 
present time, although her rate of charter was subsequently reduced to $150 per 
day. The receipts of the steamer Whilldin up to the time of the delivery of Mr. 
Reybold’s testimony, must have been somewhere between $87,650 and $113,925, 
on which Capt. Loper’s commissions were between $4,882 and $5,746. Mr. Rey- 
bold chartered the steamer Express to the Government, through Capt. Loper, at 
$175 per day, the Star at $110 per day, and the John Tucker at $300 per day, 
paying Loper five per cent, on their gross receipts. Through the same generous 
agency, Mr. Reybold chartered the Diamond State, 375 tons, at $200 per day j the 
Swan, 350 tons, at $200 per day, and the Gen. Burnside, 400 tons, at $300 per 
day, Capt. Loper himself being part owner of them).” 

The charge here made, like all others in which the Com- 
mittee attempt to be specific or give names, is unsustained 
by any proof. I had nothing to do with the charter of the 
W. Whilldin ; this is shown by the affidavit of Mr. Rey- 
bold above set forth. Near the close of the report, I find 
the following, implicating me in some fraudulent transac- 
tions in the charter of the steamer Metamora : 


16 


Another extraordinary condition of facts is developed in connection with this 
steamer. She was an old vessel, and cost her owners $25,000. She was chartered 
upon the recommendation of Capt. R. F. Loper, by Assistant Secretary of War 
John Tucker, though the latter gentleman has failed, for some unexplained reason, 
to include her name in the list he furnished to the Committee of vessels chartered 
by him or under his direction. The price paid for her by the Government was 
$450 per day, according to the testimony of Mr. Lewis Baker, one of her owners. 
She was chartered to be delivered at Annapolis on the 6th of March, 1862. I state 
from memory. A telegram came on here from one of the owners in New York to 
deliver her there on the 6th of March, with 4,000 gallons of water on board. We 
got ready to run the blockade, and were stopped here on the night of the 4th, by 
the Quartermasters Department, at 4 or 5 o’clock in the afternoon. That is the 
time she was chartered. * * * *» 


This story is without any shadow of evidence to sustain 
it. I had no more to do with the charter of the Metamora 
than the Chairman of the Committee, or any other gentle- 
man. I neither chartered her for the Government nor 


collected her charter money. But let Mr. Danforth’s lettef 
tell the story ; 

Brevoort House, New York, February 20, 1863. 


My Dear Sir : — I have your note of the 13th instant, inquiring of me if I ever 
applied to you to charter or to use your influence with any officer of the Govern- 
ment to charter the Metamora. 

In reply to this, I have to say that I never applied to you to charter the steamer 
Metamora or any other vessel. This fully answers both branches of your question 
in the negative. Very truly yours, 


To Capt. R. F. Loper, Washington City. 


J. B. DANFORTH. 


If in any case the Government has been seriously dam- 
aged through my agency in chartering vessels, it is the fault 
of those in power and not mine, because in no case was any 
vessel or steamer chartered by me for a longer term than 
one month, and if the Government chose to keep them 
longer, it only proves that the Government agents were 


satisfied with the terms on which I chartered them. 


Mr. Tucker, in his testimony before the Committee, was 


17 


/;>-r 


under a mistake, which he corrected in his subsequent testi- 
mony (see Committee Report, p. 358, lines 8 — 16,) when 
he said that I examined and reported steamers for the 
McClellan Expedition in Baltimore. I never examined any 
steamers or vessels in Baltimore, nor recommended them to 
the War Department, since the war broke out. 

The Committee, in their anxiety to fix the crime of 
swindling or perjury on me, lay great stress on some dis- 
crepancy between my testimony and the list furnished by 
the War Department, as to whether certain vessels were 
chartered by Mr. Tucker or by me. I stated in my testi- 
mony that I chartered them. The War Department says 
Mr, Tucker chartered them. The simple truth is that I 
inspected the vessels and made the contracts with the 
owners. Mr. Tucker signed the charters after the terms 
were agreed upon, so that, while I know that in point of 
fact the business was transacted by me, the records of the 
War Department show that it was done by Mr. Tucker. I 
signed one charter for some of the vessels. Mr. Tucker 
signed the remainder. There are five charter parties to 
each vessel. The reason I signed one was as follows : The 
schooners were going away and did not know their destina- 
tion, and wanted one charter to take with them to show 
that they were in the employ of the Government. I signed 
this charter party “ E. E. Loper, by request of Gen. Burn- 
side, and by order of John Tucker.” Mr. Tucker signed 
the four remaining charters for each vessel. 

The same explanation may be given of the cases of the 


18 


steamers Louisiana and Pocahontas. I testify that Gen. 
Burnside chartered the vessels, and the War Department 
says Mr. Tucker chartered them. In point of fact, Gen. 
Burnside chartered the vessels, at Baltimore, and at Anna- 
polis, and the charters were signed by Mr. Tucker, at Phi- 
ladelphia, and the same explanation may apply in other 
cases. 

Mr. Grimes, as General Burnside’s letter of March 10th, 
1863, will show, need not have put the Government to so 
great an expense for witnesses, traveling, hotel bills and 
carriage hire of the Hon. Committee in Philadelphia, New 
York and elsewhere ; in order to ascertain about my com- 
missions they only had to go to the Library in the Capitol, 
and examine the report of Mr, Washburne to the House of 
Representatives, from the Select Committee to Inquire into 
Army Contracts, (marked No. 2,) in my evidence before 
that Committee, (page 609,) under date of February 7th, 
1862, in which I distinctly state about my commissions 
as follows : 

Question — What compensation did you receive for the services you rendered the 
Government ? 

Answer — I have paid all my own expenses, and I never charged the Govern- 
ment one dime for my time or traveling expenses. The only compensation result- 
ing to me was a commission for collecting and advancing moneys to parties whom 
the Government owed. 

Question — What is the ordinary commission for collecting and advancing 
money ? 

Answer — Two and a half per cent, for advancing, and two and a half for col- 
lecting. 

Question — What amount, by way of commissions or brokerage, did you ordi- 
narily charge in these transactions ? 

Answer — Five per cent. 

Question — Would that include interest? 


19 




Answer — There would be no charge for interest 5 the five per cent, includes inte- 
rest. I suppose, in the end, I may get, saying nothing about the interest, two per 
cent, for all my trouble — that is, if I should get the money from the Government 
in the course of two or three months 5 but I run the risk of not getting the money 
from the Government. 

On page 14, Mr. Grimes says : 

He (Captain Loper) assured the Committee on several occasions that he had 
money enough before the war broke out, for himself and children. (He had been 
an agent in furnishing Government transportation during the Mexican war,”) etc. 

In reply to the ungenerous fling contained in the above 
insinuation, I submit the following letters, all bearing 
directly on the subject : 

[confidential.] 

Quartermaster General’s Office, 

AV ASHiNGTON, Nov. 29th, 1846. 

Sir : — The Quartermaster’s Department is desirous of availing itself of your well 
known intelligence, judgment and practical experience, in the discharge of its 
duties, connected with the construction, purchase or charter of vessels, boats, and 
other objects required in the prosecution of military marine operations, and there- 
fore name and by these presents, appoint you one of its special agents, at a salary 
or per diem allowance of per day, besides travelling and other expenses inci- 
dent to the service on which you may be employed ; during the continuance of your 
special agency, you will please signify as early as may be, your acceptance or non- 
acceptance of the agency proposed, and in case the former, you will please regard 
the following as instructions upon the subject therein specially referred to. 

The Department has been recently required to provide at an embarrassingly short 
notice, one hundred and fifty boats or barges of the description indicated in the 
drawings and specifications handed you yesterday, by the first of January, and it is 
to provision and proper equipment of this required Boat fleet ^ your individual atten- 
tion is now invoked, and it is on your efforts that the Department mainly relies for 
the timely execution of one of the most important as well as difficult orders which 
the exigencies of the war have thrown upon it, you will please take early and the 
most energetic and prompt measures which your experience may suggest for the pro- 
curement by contracts, with responsible individuals, of the number of boats or barges 
in question, in your city, Baltimore, New York, Boston, and elsewhere, impressing 
strongly upon the attention of all persons disposed to contract, the importance to con- 
tractors as well as all others concerned, of having the work done within the time speci- 
fied by contract, and of good materials and workmanship, and in strict conformity to 


20 


the drawings and specifications referred to, a copy of each of which you will hand to 
each of the contractors for their guide and government in the work, special care 
should be taken in the construction of the boats designed for the landing of heavy 
ordnance. 

Any assistance, with the power of the ofiScers of this Department, at the places 
where you may be operating, as well of the officers of the Navy Yards will be 
promptly accorded to you. The entire confidence in your judgment and discretion 
renders more detailed instructions unnecessary j as to price, it is not deemed expe- 
dient to limit you further than to intimate the hope that you may be able to resist 
any combination which may be formed to take advantage of the urgent necessities 
of the Government on the part of bidders, and be able to accomplish our object 
at what may be fairly considered, under the circumstances, a fair price. 

The estimate made by officers of the navy as well as naval constructors, is about 
$400 per boat. I shall be agreeably disappointed if you are not compelled by un- 
toward circumstances to pay considerably more. 

But I am entirely confident you will in this important respect do the best that can 
be done. Should you find after due efforts (what I fear you will find) it impracti- 
able to secure contracts for the whole number of boats required, of the description 
indicated in the drawings and specifications already referred to, you will secure the 
greatest number possible, and build or cause to be built the number of flat bottomed 
boats of the description, and from which you may think best adapted to the service 
for which they are required necessary to make up the deficiency. Keep this office 
advised of your measures in the prosecution of the work confided to you, and rely at 
all times upon all the aid and assistance on the part of the Department. 

I remain, sir, with great respect and esteem, 

[Signed.] Your Ob’t Sr’t, 

HENRY STANTON, 

Ass’t Qr. Mr. Gen’l. 

Capt. R. F. Loper, 

Philadelphia. 


Quartermaster General’s Office, 
Washington City, August 10th, 1848. 

Captain : — I have received your letter of the 9th instant. As you held an 
appointment, and not an office, the same course was pursued in your case that is 
pursued in all similar cases, you were considered out of service from the time you 
intimated a wish to be no longer considered in the service. Entertaining as I did 
very high regard for you, and being entirely satisfied with the valuable services you 
had rendered, I would have given you a written testimonial had I considered it of 


21 




any importance, but it affords me sincere pleasure now to assure you that I shall 
always hold in grateful remembrance the energy and ability with which you per- 
formed every duty confided to you during the whole period you were employed by 
the Department. 

I am, Captain, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 

[Signed.] THOS. JESSUP, 

Quartermaster- General. 

Capt. R. F. Loper, 

Philadelphia. 


Treasury Department, 

Third Audito7''s Office^ August 14th, 1848. - 

Sir: — Your letter of the 19th instant has been received, enclosing G. H. Gros- 
man’s receipt in your favor for $88 73-100, which sum has been passed to your 
credit, closing your account as late Agent Quartermaster’s Department, upon the 
books of this office. ’ 

Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, 

[Signed.] J. THOMPSON, 

Acting Auditor. 

To R. F. Loper, Esq., 

Late Agent Quartermaster’s Department, Philadelphia. 

The very great service I rendered to my Government in 
this great emergency I will explain as follows : — On or about 
the 25 th of August, 1846, Gen’l Scott was at or near Bra- 
zos, Texas, with his army. He made a requisition on the 
War Department for one hundred and fifty surf-boats, to be 
fifty (50) feet long, twelve (12) feet wide, and four (4) feet 
deep, and he stated in a letter to Mr. Marcy, (then Secre- 
tary of War,) that the above named boats must be shipped 
on or before the first day of J anuary following, or he would 
be compelled to put off his Expedition against Vera Cruz, 
until the next year, as the season of the northers would 
have commenced soon after January. The fulfilment of this 


22 


urgent order would save the entire expense of the Blexican 
War for one year. In this emergency, the War Department 
applied to the Navy Department for assistance. The Sec- 
retary of the Navy called the naval constructors to Wash- 
ington, to consult with them, and on the 28th day of 
November, 1846, the board of naval constructors decided 
that it would take at least 90 days to complete these one 
hundred and fifty boats, and have them ready for shipment, 
provided all the Navy Yards in the country were used for 
that purpose solely. Mr. Marcy, (Secretary of War) tele- 
graphed me to report to Washington, and on my arrival 
this vital business and the decision of the naval constructors 
were made known to me by Colonel Henry Stanton, then 
acting Quartermaster General. I asked him if Mr. Lenthall, 
the naval constructor, was in Washington ; he replied that 
he was, and sent for him. I had then and have now, 
every confidence in any calculation made by this gentleman 
concerning ship or boat building. ■ I asked him if he had 
made the calculation himself, and was sure that the boats 
could be built and ready for shipment in ninety days, he said 
he had, and was certain that they could be finished in that 
time. I then turned to the Hon. Mr. Marcy, and informed 
him that I would guarantee that the boats should be furnish- 
ed and shipped in thirty days, and I made my words good. 
The boats were built and shipped inside of the thirty days, 
and one year's expense of the Mexican War was saved to the 
United States, and all of our brave army landed on the 
enemy’s coast without the loss of a man. The way I accom- 


23 


/S/ 


plished this important work, was as follows : — The men at 
the Navy Yards work eight (8) hours a day. I had two 
gangs of men and they worked eight hours on and off, 
whilst the naval constructors based their calculations on 
eight hours a day. I based mine upon three times that 
much ; so, if they could complete the boats in ninety days, 
I could do the work in thirty days. Had I accomplished 
this feat in England, or any other foreign country, in place 
of being called a swindler, I would have been highly hon- 
ored. The consciousness, however, that I had tried to serve 
my country was sufficient for me. 

The letter from Col. Henry Stanton, acting Quartermas- 
ter General, which is published in this report, shows the 
importance of the business, and the letter from General 
Jessup, Quartermaster General, shows the manner in which 
I executed the business. I now hand you all the original 
letters named in this report, as also the affidavits of Mr. 
Anthony Groves, Jr., of Mr. Anthony Reybold, and Capt. 
Wilmon Whilldin, which I wish to have placed in the 
Quartermaster General’s Office, as an offset to the slanders 
which have been heaped upon me, and most respectfully 
request of you certified copies of the same. 

I also beg to refer you to the letter of J. Thompson, Third 
Auditor of the Treasury Department, dated August, 1848, 
which will show you that my accounts were all satisfac- 
torily adjusted four days after the termination of my 
office. 

On page 17, of the Grimes Report, we read : 


24 


The heavier operations of Captain Loper began with the appointment of Mr. 
Tucker as ^United States Transport Agent/ and they have continued, without 
intermission, during the whole of Mr. Tucker’s two terms of office, first as agent, 
and subsequently as Assistant Secretary of War.” ^ 

To the best of my knowledge and belief, I never chartered 
to Mr. Tucker a steamboat, vessel or barge, during his 
entire term of office as Assistant Secretary of War, except 
on the McClellan Expedition. 

On page 27, the report continues : 

Fourth. That the monopoly of chartering vessels by Hall, Loper, and others, 
even were it known that their transactions were honest, cannot be justified ; and 
the officers who knew that Hall, Loper, and others were extorting commissions 
from the owners and agents of vessels, and permitted such monopoly to continue, 
deserve the severest censure.” 

This charge of monopoly is absurd. There have been 
chartered to the United States Government, at the Port of 
Philadelphia, over two hundred steamboats, vessels and 
barges, in addition to those intended for the McClellan Ex- 
pedition, and for which merchants have been paid a com- 
mission. From the date of the Mexican war, I have been 
well acquainted with Col. Crosman, who has been stationed 
at Philadelphia, from the early part of the rebellion. The 
chartering of all steamers properly belongs to his depart- 
ment ; yet, with all the “ monopoly ” charged against me, I 
have chartered to his department but a single steamer — no 
vessels or barges — since I ceased to be agent of the Depart- 
ment. This steamer, the Cecil, a tug boat, (the exception 
to which I allude), belonging to New York, was chartered 
for an ice breaker on the Potomac. I did not charge, nor 
receive any commissions on her charter, nor had I any inte- 
rest in her. 


25 


/st- 


So far as the monopoly in New York is concerned, I have 
not chartered ten steamers, or vessels, for the use of the 
Government since the war commenced. My “dramatic 
performance ” and the character of my monopoly at Annap- 
olis is shown in the letters of Gen. Burnside, Mr. Hall, 
and Mr. Flanagan. 

On page 17 of the Report we read : 

A dramatic performance of much merit was enacted on this occasion. Capt. 
Loper testifies (page 257) that he sent a soldier around to warn all captains, that 
if they had anything to do with brokers or middle men, he would not touch their 
vessels.” 

For my part of the performance I refer to the letters of 
General Burnside, Messrs. A. C. Hall, and S. Flanagan, on 
pages 25 and 26. 

All the steamers chartered at Annapolis, for the use of 
the Burnside Expedition, are named in Gen. Burnside’s 
letter, dated March 10th, 1863, in Mr. Hall’s, under date of 
March 9th, 1863, and in Mr. Flanagan’s of the 6th instant, 
which are herewith submitted : 

“Washington, March 10th, 1863. 

“ Capt. R. P. Loper, 

“ My Dear Captain: — I have received your letter of the 9th, and in reply I am 
happy to state that while I was embarking my troops at Aijnapolis, in January, 
1862, I found that I needed more vessels than had been chartered for my use, as 
more troops had been added to my command, and consequently more vessels were 
needed for horses and men. 

The steamer ‘ Pocohontas ’ was then lying at Annapolis, having come down 
with water for the use of the expedition, and Mr. Brandt, her owner, being at the 
time in Annapolis, I made an agreement with him for the Pocahontas to take some 
of the horses on board. Upon further inquiry for vessels for troops, I learned from 
Mr. Brandt that the ^ Louisiana,’ a vessel capable of carrying over a regiment, was 
at Baltimore, I immediately sent Mr. Brandt to Baltimore on a steam tug, to 
ascertain what arrangements could be made in regard to chartering her. On his 
arrival, he telegraphed me that she could not be had for less than $800 per day. 


26 


As it was positively necessary for me to have more vessels at once, I told him to 
engage her at that price, which he did, and on the next day she arrived at Anna- 
polis with water on board ready to sail. 

The arrangements for chartering both the Pocahontas and Louisiana were 
made beeween Mr. Brandt and myself, and the charters signed by Mr. Tucker at 
my request. You were in Annapolis at the time, and I consulted fully with you in 
regard to the chartering of both vessels, but all thd arrangements were made by 
myself. The Louisiana took troops on board, and proceeded to Hatteras Inlet, 
Roanoke and Newbern, and was discharged from my department at the latter place 
some time in April, I think, and sent North, to report to the Quartermaster’s De- 
partment, since which time I have known nothing of her, save that I hear she was 
engaged in service for General McClellan. 

‘^In reply to the question in regard to your notification to the masters of vessels, 
I distinctly remember that you did notify the masters of schooners and vessels for 
carrying forage, baggage, &c., not to pay commissions to agents in Annapolis for 
chartering their vessels. 

Very truly, yours, 

«A. E. BURNSIDE, 

Major General^ 


Baltimore, March 9, 1863. 

Capt. R. F. Loper, Willard’s Hotel, Washington. 

“Dear Sir: — Your letter of the Yth inst., in relation to chartering vessels, at 
Annapolis, in January, 1862, for the Burnside Expedition, was duly received. In 
reply, I would say that you did not charter any vessels or steamers of me, or 
through me as agent, of the Burnside Expedition. I chartered my two steam tug- 
boats, James Murray and E. H. Herbert, for that expedition. They were taken 
by Gen. Burnside, and inspected by his chief engineer, C. H. Haswell, Esq. The 
charter parties for the two boats were signed by me, as owner of them, and by 
Hon. John Tucker, General Transport Agent of the U. S. War Department. 

• Yours, respectfully, 

A. C. HALL.” 


“ Philadelphia, March 6th, 1863. 

“ Capt. R. F. Loper. 

“ Dear Sir ; — ^Yours of the 6th before me, and, in reply to your several inquiries, 
beg leave to say in answer to your 

First Question — What was the name of the Government Officer who chartered 
the steamers J. P. Levy, Alert, Alida, and Champion, and who signed the charter 
parties ? 


27 


/ss 


Answer — Mr. John Tucker. 

Second — At what place or port were the above named steamers at the time of 
charter ? 

Answer— Hwo at Baltimore and two at Philadelphia. 

Third — Did I or did I not charge you a commission for chartering or procuring 
a charter for the above or any of your boats that were chartered for the Burnside 
Expedition ? 

Answer — You did not j but I paid you a commission of five per cent, for collect- 
ing money from Government, as earned by the charter parties. 

Fourth — What was the name of the Government officer that chartered of you 
the tug Adriatic ? 

Answer — Lieut. Crosby. 

Fifth — Did I charge you a commission for procuring a charter for the Adriatic ? 

Answer — You did not. 

Sixth — Did you ever pay or promise to pay me a commission for chartering any 
of your steamboats, barges or vessels, whilst I was acting as Agent of the United 
States War Department, between the 20th day of April and the 10th day of May, 
1861 ? 

Answer — I did not. 


Yours, very truly, 

S. FLANAGAN. 


Of the schooners or vessels chartered by me, when assist- 
ing General Burnside, at Annapolis, not a master or owner 
can say I ever charged the value of a dollar commissions for 
chartering. I think that I was with General Burnside 
nearly forty days and nights. I furnished all my stationery, 
including five charter parties for each steamer or vessel ; 
paid my own clerk hire and board, and never have asked 
nor received, nor would I receive, one cent from Govern- 
ment for any of these expenses. 

Mr. Grimes says I have chartered my steamers at high 
prices. This is not shown by any evidence ; nor is it the 
fact. With three exceptions, all the vessels in which I have 
any direct interest have been chartered to Government 
by their other owners, without my assistance by word or 


28 


letter. The three steamers mentioned above are the Gene- 
ral Meigs and General Burnside, chartered to General M. C. 
Meigs, Quartermaster General, and the Diamond State to 
Major Stewart Van Vliet. I have not used my position to 
charter my vessels at high prices. 

Page 14 of the Report says : 

Captain Loper says (page 252) that he has ^neglected everything since the war 
broke out but to attend to and try to assist the Government and serve his country 
as much as in him lay.’ ” 

That this was no idle boast, the following letters prove, 
(J. Edgar Thomson’s, S. M. Eelton’s, Governor Olden’s, 
General Burnside’s and Colonel Ingall’s :) 

Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Company, 

Philadelphia, May 11th, 1861. 

Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War: 

We take great pleasure in saying that Captain R. F. Loper, of this city, has been 
untiring in his efforts to save the country, in the trying emergency when Washing- 
ton was in danger. About and immediately after April 20th, we sent for him to 
aid us in the procuring of boats and transports, between Perry ville and Annapolis, 
he cheerfully devoted himself entirely to the service of the Government, and ren- 
dered us a most valuable service in procuring, coaling, and provisioning such boats 
as were required ; from his familiarity with this business, and his untiring energy, 
the Government have derived most efficient aid in its hour of need. 

Yours truly, 

[Signed.] S. M. FELTON. 

J. EDGAR THOMSON. 

Special Agents of the U. S. War Department, 


State of New Jersey, Executive Department, 
Trenton, May Yth, 1861 . 

Captain R. F. Loper: 

Dear Sir : — Permit me to tender you my thanks for the great service you have 
rendered New Jersey in the transportation of the troops lately despatched, I must 


29 




attribute, to a very great extent, tbe success of tbe expedition to your services in 
the providing, equipping, and commanding tbe fleet, you will also please convey to 
your son my tbanks for tbe very valuable assistance rendered by bim. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

[Signed.] CHS. S. OLDEN. 


Annapolis, January 7tb, 1862. 
Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, Washington; 

Dear Sir I beg leave to express to you my bearty appreciation of tbe services 
rendered me, in tbe fitting out of tbe expedition under my command by Captain 
E. F. Loper, tbe interest and zeal manifested by this gentleman in this work, bas 
been constant and untiring, and be bas in every instance fully answered every de- 
mand made upon bis skill and bis patience. 

I most cheerfully acknowledge my obligations to bim, and take great pleasure in 
recommending him as a competent and efficient man, whose experience and mature 
judgment cannot fail to be of great service in any case of emergency. 

Yours, very truly, 

[Signed.] A. E. BURNSIDE. 

Brigadier General, 


Alexandria, April 2d, 1862. 

My Dear Friend : — I have now transferred my vessels, etc., to Colonel Rucker, 
and Lieutenant Ferguson, and shall leave this evening. Both these officers greatly 
desire your assistance, until General McDowell’s command bas embarked. I trust 
you will add to existing obligations a few days more of your valuable counsel and 
personal supervision. In making this request I claim it is a cheerful duty to ex- 
press to you bow profoundly sensible I am of your generous aid to me. 

I hardly know what I could have done without you, while with your assistance 
we have so far achieved an unparalleled success in tbe embarkation of troops, I hope 
Colonel Rucker will have as good fortune. I hope to see you again and again^ for 
long years to come, and fervently trust your days will be long here, where your 
abilities, kind heartedness, and charities, are so well appreciated. Let us 
both have faith to believe and expect that peace and prosperity will soon be 
restored to our afflicted country j visit us when you can and let me hear from you 
at your leisure. 

In haste, yours truly, 

RUFUS INGALLS, 

Lt, Col, A, D. C. 


[Signed.] 

Capt. R. F. Loper, Willard’s. 


30 


In conclusion, I wish to imitate the Committee so far as 
to recommend a few reforms in the modes of investigation 
practiced in Congress. 

First : On every such Committee I would have one re- 
spectable lawyer, who should be restrained by professional 
pride from plying witnesses with leading questions, and em- 
bodying the answer in the question, so that a witness who 
knows neither the rules of evidence, nor the force of words, 
may decide the gravest questions by an unmeaning “ yes’ 
or “ no.” 

Second : I would give the party whose good name is as- 
sailed the privilege, extended everywhere to thieves and 
murderers, of confronting his accuser, and, by himself or 
his attorney, cross-examining the witnesses, and, after the 
accusation was exhausted, allow him to bring witnesses for 
his defence before the Committee. 

Third : I would require notice to be given to the parties 
accused of the time and place of taking depositions, so that 
they might attend and hear what was proved, and frame 
their defence accordingly. 

Fourth : I would require the report of such Committee 
to be printed, by authority, before they furnished copies to 
the newspapers for publication. 

Fifth : Where fraud was discovered, I would have the 
party indicted and tried at once, so that, if he is guilty, he 
may be punished, or, if he is innocent, he may have an 
opportunity to set' himself right before the world. 

The system now pursued has evil tendencies without 
limit : 


31 


/SS 


First: It destroys the private character. of citizens and 
leaves them without remedy. 

Second : It destroys the confidence of the public in the 
integrity of the Administration. 

Third : When the truth comes to be known, it destroys 
the confidence of the constituent in the honor and veracity 
of the representative. 

Fourth : It drives fro^i the public service men of honesty 
and self-respect, who have not the courage to endure 
scandal. 

For myself, I am not so delicate as some people. I have 
stood by the Administration in its darkest hour, and I in- 
tend to stand by it to the end. The rise and fall of poli- 
ticians is nothing to me, compared to the preservation of 
the Constitution and the Union. 

Concerning Mr. Charles Coblins and Mr. Pickrell, I never 
knew either of them by sight, nor spoke to them. 

I cannot close without volunteering a word in favor of 
Messrs. J. Edgar Thomson and S. M. Felton. When the 
Capital was in danger, these patriotic gentlemen gave all 
their energies to the Government, for ten days and nights, 
not even taking half the time necessary for sleep, and I am 
positive that had it not been for their exertions the Capital 
would have fallen into the hands of the secessionists. We 
tried to serve our country, and we succeeded. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

K. F. LOPER. 

Philadelphia, March, 1863. 


LIST 


OF ALL THE VESSELS CHARTERED BY R. F. LOPER, 


Whilst he was acting as agent of the United States War Department, under appoint- 
ment received from J. Edgar Thomson, Esq., of the Port of Philadelphia, the full 
amount. for which I hound the Government for, is set opposite the names of each 
vessel. 


Steamer : 

W. Whilldin 

From April 20, to 

May 20 

30 days. 

At $175 per day 

$ 5,250 00 

Richard Willing 

(( 

20. 

it 

20 

30 

it 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

John S. Shriver 

t( 

20, 

(( 

20 

30 

tt 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

H. L. Gaw 

11 

20, 

(( 

20 

30 

tt 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

Josephine 

(( 

20, 

<( 

20 

30 

it 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

Philadelphia 

(< 

22, 


22 

30 

tt 

135 “ 

4,050 00 

Commerce 

Ci 

23. 

f 1 

23 

30 

ft 

100 “ 

3,000 00 

Thomas Sparks 

(< 

23. 

(( 

23 

30 

tt 

175 “ 

5,250 00 

C. C. Alger 

it 

26. 

(( 

26 

30 

tt 

100 “ 

3,000 00 

J. R. Thomson 

It 

26, 

(( 

26 

30 

tt 

100 “ 

3,000 00 

Artisan 

ft 

26, 

(( 

26 

30 

ft 

100 

3,000 00 

New York 

ti 

27. 

it 

27 

30 

tt 

135 “ 

4,050 00 

Planet 

If 

27, 

it 

27 

30 

tt 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

Ann Eliza 

It 

27, 

it 

27 

30 

tt 

125 “ 

3,750 00 

Fanny Cadwallader. 
W. Woodward 

it 

5, 

June 

4 

30 

ft 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

6, 

tt 

4 

30 

tt 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

Elizabeth 

It 

6. 

• ii 

5 

30 

tt 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

Octorora 


6, 

it 

5 

30 

It 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

F. W. Brune. 

tt 

6. 

it 

5 

30 

ft 

150 “ 

4,500 00 

Sophia 

It 

7. 

ti 

6 

30 

It 

160 “ 

4,800 00 

Reindeer 

it 

7. 

it 

6 

30 

ft 

66 “ 

1,980 00 

Wissahickon 

it 

7. 

(( 

6 

30 

ft 

66 “ 

1,980 00 

Barge — Oneida 

April 27, 

May 27 

30 

tt 

30 “ 

900 00 

“ Middlesex... 

(( 

27, 

ti 

27 

30. 

tt 

30 “ 

900 00 


$89,910 00 


I do assure you that I never received of any of the owners, agents, or brokers, of 
the above named steamers and barges the value of one dollar, as a commission or 
present for chartering any one or all of the above named vessels. 


P. F. LOPER. 


CONTINUATION OF E. F. LOPEE’S DEFENCE. 

Containing Important Matter not included in the foregoing pages. 


Mr. GRIMES, on page 27 of his Report to the Senate, 
says : 

^^Many of the Charters effected by, through, or under 
the agency of Hall, Loper and others, were secured at 
exorbitant prices, and are otherwise tainted with fraud.’’ 

In reply to the foregoing, I submit the following state- 
ment, in addition to those already published : 


Chartered by R. F. LOPER, as Agent for the Government. 


STEAMERS. 


Tonnage. 

Chartered for 30 days. 

Days. 

Per day. 

Price ^ month. 

W. Whilldin, . . 


310 

April 20 to May 20 

30 

1175 

|5,250 00 

Kichard Willing, 


232 

V ‘‘ 

ii ii 

(( 

150 

4,500 00 

J. S. Schriver, 


222 

(C <i 

(( ii 


150 

4,500 00 

H. L. Gaw, . . 


228 

ii (( 

it ii 

(( 

150 

4,500 00 

Josephine, . . 


254 

(( (( 

ii <( 

{( 

150 

4,500 00 

Philadelphia, . . 


172 

22 

“ 22 

II 

135 

4,050 00 

Commerce, . . 


160 

“ 23 

“ 23 

II 

100 

3,000 00 

Thos. Sparks, . . 


300 

“ “ 

“ “ 

II 

175 

5,250 00 

C.C. Alger, . . 


149 

“ 26 

“ 26 

II 

100 

3,000 00 

J. R. Thompson, . 


170 

{( (( 

i( ii 

II 

100 

3,000 00 

Artisan, . . . 


173 

(( t( 

C( ii 

II 

100 

3,000 00 

New York, . . 


158 

“ 27 

“ 27 

II 

135 

4,050 00 

Planet, .... 


282 

t( (( 

(( C( 

II 

150 

4,500 00 

Ann Eliza, . . 


211 

(( (( 

i( ii 

II 

125 

3,750 00 

F. Cadwalader, . 


218 

May 5 to June 4 

II 

150 

4,500 00 

W. Woodward, . 


275 

“ “ 

“ “ 

it 

150 

4,500 00 

Elizabeth, . . . 


245 

“ 6 

“ 5 

II 

150 

4,500 00 

Octorara, . . . 


237 

(( (( 

(( (( 

11 

150 

4,500 00 

F. W. Prune, . . 


237 

<( H ' 

(( (< 

11 

150 

4,500 00 

Sophia, .... 


286 

“ 7 

“ 6 

II 

160 

4,800 00 

Reindeer, . . . ' 


40 

(t {( 

i( (( 

11 

66 

1,980 00 

Wissahickon, . . 


40 

(( (( 

Ii It 

It 

66 

1,980 00 

Barge Oneida, 


133 

April 27 to May 27 

II 

30 

900 00 

“ Middlesex, 


158 

n n 

II II 

It 

30 

900 00 



4890 




12,997 

189,910 00 


For names and prices of the above, refer to Letter to Secretary of War, 
dated March 27th, 1862 — 37th Congress, 2d Session, Senate : Ex. Doc. 
No. 37. 


Note. — T he average of the above charters is less than 62 cents per ton per day. 


34 


The foregoing statement shows that the twenty -two 
steamers and two barges chartered by me, whilst acting 
as agent for the Government, under J. Edgar Thomson, 
summed up 4,890 tons, and cost the sum of $2,997 per 
day, or $89,910 per month. 

Now, at the same time, Col. D. D. Tompkins, U. S. 
Quartermaster, at New York, chartered two steamships, 
(the “ Kedar,” 1800 tons, and the “ Baltic,” 2723 tons,) 
in all 4523 tons, at $2000 per day each, showing a com- 
parison as follows : 

My charters amounted, as above, 4890 tons, at $2997 per day. 

D. D. Tompkins’ “ “ 4523 “ 4000 “ 

367 $1003 

Making a difference in favor of my charters in this 
case of $30,090 per month, besides furnishing the Govern- 
ment with 367 tons more. 

In relation to the “ Baltic ” and “ Keedar,” see Letter 
of the Secretary of War, dated Washington, March 26th, 
1862; 37th Congress, Second Session, Senate: Ex. Doc., 
No. 37. 

Note : 

Average of my charters as above, is less than 62 cents per ton per day. 
“ D. D. Tompkins’ “ 88 “ “ 


In my favor. 


26 cents “ 


35 


/^7 


STEAMERS CHARTERED BY THE QUARTERMASTER’S 
DEPARTMENT. 

Steamer Dudley Buck, tonnage 280||, at 1400 per day. 

“ George B. Collins, “ 234 400 ' “ 

“ Albany, “ 227|f 250 “ 

« Jersey Blue, “ 222^| 250 “ 

Tons, 963f § at f 1300 “ 

I refer to charters on file at the Quartermaster’s ofiice, 
at Washington, for date in regard to steamers ‘^Dudley 
Buck” and “George C. Collins,” and of the “Albany” 
and “Jersey Blue,” to Mr. Grimes’ “ Report in part” to 
the Senate, January 15th, 1863; 37th Congress, 3d Ses- 
sion, Senate: Rep. Com, No. 75, page 18; for the ton- 
nage of these four boats, I refer to certificate of which 
the following is a copy : 

Custom House, New York, Collector’s Office, 

W. B. G. April 2d, 1863. 

I certify that it appears from the records of this office, that the tonnage 
of the following steamers are as follows : “ Dudley Buck,” 280-|| tons ; 
“George C. Collins,” 234 tons; “Albany,” 227|| tons; “Jersey Blue,” 
222^1 tons. 

Given under my hand and seal of office, the year and day above written. 

G. P. STEDWELL, 

[Custom House Seal, N. Y.] D. Col. 

STEAMERS CHARTERED OF THE PHILADELPHIA STEAM 
PROPELLER COMPANY, by Mr. JOHN TUCKER. 

Steamer Thomas Sparks, tonnage 300, at $145 per day. 

“ Sophia, “ 286, 145 “ 

“ Planet, “ 282, 145 “ 

“ Josephine, “ 254, 145 “ 

1122 $580 “ 

Difference in favor of the Philadelphia Steam Propeller 
Company, in tonnage, by the above, is 185A tons, and in 
pay for charter, is $720 per day, or $21,600 per month, 
or $259,200 per annum. 

The price and tonnage of the above named Steamers, 
belonging to the Phila. Steam Propeller Co., will be found 
in a letter of the Secretary of War, in answer to a “ Reso- 
lution of the Senate, 37th Congress, Exec. Docu. No. 37.” 

Note. — The New York charters, as above, will average over 137 cents 
per ton, per day; the Philadelphia Steam Propeller Co. charters 51 J cents 
per day. 


36 


Names of 

Dates of 


Rate of Charter 

By whom 

On whose 

Steamers. 

Charters. 

Tons. 

Per day. 

Per month. 

Chartered. 

Recommenda- 


1861. 




tion. 

Potomac, 

Oct. 10, 

460 

$350 00 

$10,500 00 

Capt. Saxon, N. Y. 


Locust Point, 

Oct. 10, 

460 

350 00 

10,500 00 

it it 


May Flower, 

Oct. 14, 

400 

400 00 

12,000 00 

it tt 




1,320 

1,100 00 

$33,000 00 



Thos. Swan, 

Sept. 30, 

460 

$265 80 

$7,975 00 

John Tucker, Esq. 

R. F. Loper. 

George's Creek, 

Oct. 14, 

460 

260 00 

7,800 00 

(( tt 

tt tt 

Patapsco, 

Sept. 30, 

45451 

265 80 

7,975 00 

tt tt 

tt tt 



1.374 »» 

$791 60 

$23,750 00 




The Potomac, Locust Point, and May Flower, were 
chartered, as above, by Captain Saxon, October 10th and 
14th, 1861, and the Thos. Swan, George’s Creek, and 
Patapsco, by John Tucker, Esq., by my recommendation, 
September 30th, and October 14th. All the above named 
steamers except the “ May Flower,” were built by me for 
the Parker Vein Steamship Company, and are of the same 
model, and their dimensions exactly alike, being similar 
to each other in every respect. 

Tons. per day. per mo. 
Captain Saxon’s charters, 1320 $1,100 $33,300 

Charters by my recommendation, 1374|| TOly^^®^ 23,748 

54|§ $ 9,252 

Showing a difference in favor of the charters by my re- 
commendation on three steamers of $308Ti?5 per day, and 
S9,252 per month ; four of the above steamers have been 
employed by the Government over sixteen months, and a 
fair average of the whole six for twelve months would 
show a difference of one hundred and eleven thousand and 
twenty-four dollars. 

Eefer to Letter of the Secretary of War, date Washing- 
ton, March 27th, 1862, 37th Congress, 2d Session, Senate : 
Ex. Doc., No. 37. 

Note. — Captain Saxon’s charters average 80| cents per ton per day. 

John Tucker’s, Esq. charters, on my recom. 57| “ “ 


■ /jr 

37 

STEAMERS CHARTERED IN PHILADELPHIA, 

Examined and recommended by me to John Tucker, Esq., 
and belonging to Captain Wilmon Whilldin. 


Steamer Pilot Boy, 

256 tons. 

at $145 per day. 

“ George Washington, 

378 

160 

Phoenix, 

154 

115 

Pataxent, 

265 

125 


1053 

$545 


Refer to Letter of the Secretary of War, date Wash- 
ington, March 27th, 1862 ; 37th Congress, 2d Session, 
Senate : Ex. Doc., No. 37. 

CHARTERED IN NEW YORK. 


Steamer J. Farron, 250 tons, at |400 per day. 


Ocean Wave, 290 

250 

Peter G. Coffin, 263 

225 

Island City, 218 

135 

1021 

$1010 


These steamers were chartered for the McClellan Expedition. 

Difference in favor of the above Philadelphia charters 
over the New York one stands as follows, viz : in tonnage, 
32 tons ; in the price per day, |465 ; per month, $13,950 ; 
and for one year, $167,400. 

Note. — The average of the Philadelphia charters as above, is under 
cents per ton per day, and the average of the New York charters 98 
cents per ton per day. 


38 


STEAMERS CHARTERED IN PHILADELPHIA. 
Examined and recommended by me to the Government 
and owned by Anthony Reybold^ Esq. 


Steamer Express, 882 tons, 

at SI 75 per day. 

* John Tucker, 481 

u 

300 

(( 

- W. Whilldin, 312|| 

u 

150 

U 

“ Star, 130 

u 

110 

iC 

•j* Diamond State, 397 

(( 

200 

(( 

1703 


®935 


See Mr. Grimes’ Report, page 

256, 37th Congress. 

Session. 




STEAMERS CHARTERED 

IN 

NEW YORK, 

1 Steamer Honduras, 376 tons, at $400 per day. 

Nelly Baker, 303 

(C 

350 

(C 

William Kent, 411 

a 

700 

iC 

Agnes, 125 

u 

175 

(( 

Catskill, 450 

a 

400 

i( 

1665 


$2025 



McClellan’s Expedition. 


The above Philadelphia charters supply the Government 
with 38M tons more than the New York charters^ and 
at a less price by $1,090 per day^ or $32,700 per mouthy or 
$392,400 per annum. 

* Not recommended by me. 

t This steamer was first chartered by Mr. Tucker for the McClellan 
Expedition/^ but, after being considerably enlarged, was chartered by me 
to Major Yan Yleit. 

J Chartered by Captain R. Saxton. 

Note. — Average of the above Philadelphia charters is less than 55 
cents per ton per day; average of the New York charters over 121 cents 
per ton per day. 


39 


/Sf 

It is shown that by my Agency, under J. Edgar Thom- 
son, Esq., and since that expired, by my recommendations 
of the various steamers, as set forth in this continuation 
of my Defence, there has enured to the Government a 
saving, as set forth in the following tables. — 



Saving per day. 

Per Month. 

Per Annum. 

Excess of tonnage 
furnished. 

Page 34, 

35, 

36, 

37, 

38, 

$1,003 00 
720 00 
308 40 
465 00 
1,090 00 

$30,090 00 
21,600 00 
9,252 00 
13,950 00 
32,700 00 

$361,080 00 
259,200 00 
111,024 00 
167,400 00 
. 392,400 00 

367 tons. 
158/5 “ 

54«« “ 

32 “ 

38^1 “ 

Total, 

$3,586 40 

$107,592 00 

$1,291,104 00 

676|| tons. 


Before closing, I will name one instance, out of many, wherein I have saved 
money for the Government. — 

In March, 1862, when assisting in the examination of transports for the 
McClellan Expedition,” at New York, Capt. R. Sturges, on behalf of the owners 
of the steamers ‘^C. Vanderbilt” and “ Commodore,” offered them for charter to 
Mr. John Tucker, at one thousand dollars per day each. They are fine large 
vessels, and Mr. Tucker was anxious to secure them for Gen. McClellan’s Head 
Quarters and Staff purposes, — the boats already chartered being too small for 
that service. Capt. Sturges was not authorized to name a less sum than that 
already mentioned, and Mr. Tucker and Captain Hodges concluded to charter 
them at that price. At my request, Mr. Tucker reserved his decision until I 
had an opportunity to confer with the owners. I took a carriage (at my own 
expense) to Mr. Daniel Drew’s (the owner) residence. This gentleman informed 
me that he could not take less than “$1,000” per day for each boat j that they 
were newly furnished, painted, and put in complete order for their regular 
business. After a long conversation, in which I appealed to his patriotism, and 
urged him to do something for his country in the hour of need, he then and there 
agreed to charter to the Government the two steamers for $800 per day each, 
and arranged to meet Mr. Tucker at Capt. Hodges’ office, at 10 o’clock the next 
day, close the bargain and sign the charters. At the time appointed, Mr. Tucker 
completed the transaction, and Capt. Hodges signed the necessary papers. 

The boats were chartered for one month, and kept in the service for six 
months. 

I certify that, the above and within statement is true in every particular, so far 
as it relates to Capt. Loper’s conversation with me regarding the price of my 


40 


steamers, and that through his persuasion alone I reduced 'the price of the boats 
from one thousand dollars to eight hundred dollars per day. 

(Signed) D. DREW. 

The above letter shows that, by my exertions, there was a saving to Govern- 
ment of $400 per day, and for the six months $72,000. 

In the foregoing statements, I have named all the steamers on which Mr. 
Grimes states I had made such large commissions. In the various comparisons, 
I have made selections from those engaged in the regular lines run by Govern- 
ment, and from those chartered for the Expeditions for Generals Sherman, 
Burnside, McClellan, and Banks. The average price paid for the vessels on 
which I received a commission for advances, collections, &c., is below 54 cents 
per ton per day. I confidently state, after most diligent examination, that during 
the last two years the Government has never chartered of others the same number 
of steamers at so low a rate, and I believe the prices paid to others will average 
at least one third more than for those with which I am identified. 

I confidently submit the foregoing facts to the judgment of an intelligent 
community. 


R. F. LOPER. 





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